tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37951762015-03-03T05:02:06.838-06:00Jim's ThoughtsA series of essays and reflections. I try to write at least once and sometimes more each week. Opposing views are most welcome. This is a marketplace of ideas blog.Jimnoreply@blogger.comBlogger580125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3795176.post-13538573922556279922015-03-01T14:41:00.000-06:002015-03-01T14:41:58.538-06:00Science as Methodology<div style="background-color: #f6cef5; border: 10px 0px 10px 0px; font-size: 130%; line-height: 145%; padding: 3px 7px 3px 7px;"><br />When something "new" or at least startling come into our common view, as for instance, <a href="http://news.yahoo.com/big-bang-deflated-universe-may-had-no-beginning-140017504.html"> this story </a> about the origin of the universe, several things happen. One is that independent scholars like my son want to shout, "Of Course." Stephan has been convinced the popular science called, "The Big Bang" is based on flawed observations, flawed assumptions, and much too convenient constructs ever since he began to understand the calculus. From his perspective, physics is finally catching up with the data he has been speaking and writing about for some time.<br/><br/>Another thing that happens is that scientists, be they independent thinkers or university professors set about the hard work of reformulating the hypotheses in light of the new data. This can take a while, indeed years. One way to observe how long it takes for new theories to arise and enter general acceptance is to note the years between publications and recognition such as Nobel Prizes. Wrapping our minds around new and especially contrary data takes a while. It is a process that is particularly difficult for those who publish papers and books based on the old theory. <br/><br/>Physics has gone through the process of re-thinking frequently. Especially since Heisenberg and Einstein started shaking things up in the early 20th century, stable thinking, constant ideas have been few and far between. Biology if anything has been more fluid, as has its cousin, medicine. <br/><br/>Scientists, engineers, medical practitioners, and the technicians who serve them, ranging from nurses to programmers, are generally comfortable living in a fluid, evolving world. Science you see, is a methodology, not a rigid structure. We expect changes. We tell ourselves not to become attached to what we think we know. The universe, and perhaps the multi-verse, continually surprise us. <br/><br/>But, there are other responses. Those who wed themselves to a non-scientific, "theory of everything," those we call, "fundamentalists," "creationists," or "jihadists," see not a functioning methodology, but a broken monolith. Is there newly observed data that may obsolete the "big bang" theory? (Yes) Then clearly all of science is wrong, bring back the scriptural creation myths. None of the "facts" in those stories hold up to the light, but as the fundamentalist mindset thinks it has now proved that "science" can err, they leap to the conclusion that all problems with the stories represent error. After all, "god said so." Well(!) that closes off the conversation! <br/><br/>Fundamentalism can raise its ugly head in other ways, and with different revelations. Stephan's objection, that the "red shift" observation of how light travels simply fits the theories better than it could the data. Stephan would add that "Hawkins Radiation" is a construct based on the theory's needs, not the data. In a sense, the flaw in science this exposes is that fundamentalism can focus on science as well as scripture." <br/><br/>Science, like Liberation Theology (where I live) is subversive. Fundamentalism is always wrong. Christianity, properly understood, is transformative, does not accept the old data, and does not try to hold back human knowledge. Yes, I do know about the Inquisition, and Creationism. I claim neither is indeed, Christian. <br/><br/>So now we know that Einstein, Hawkins and others may have erred. Or perhaps simply worked with flawed data. Now we can observe the galaxy a bit better, we can do better. We will do that. <br/><br/>Theology too can take in new data. But like science we need to let go of the static universe myth. Some will, others will fail. </div> Jimnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3795176.post-55801768599476901832015-02-05T20:52:00.000-06:002015-02-05T20:53:29.571-06:00"Open Carry" or Only in America<div style="background-color: #f6cef5; border: 10px 0px 10px 0px; font-size: 130%; line-height: 145%; padding: 3px 7px 3px 7px;"><br />On facebook today, I received and declined the opportunity to support an "Open Carry" law in Texas. Declining the request was fairly easy: I live in Illinois. So this argument, in this legislature, is simply not my fight. None-the-less, I began to think about the subject. <br/><Br/> Open carry is based on the idea that the Second Amendment grants every adult American the right to be armed. So, everyone has the right, so the argument goes, to carry a firearm, as long as it is not concealed. "Open Carry" laws recognize that right, and prohibit the State from interfering with it. <br/><br/> This is where my English and South American friends reach escape velocity incredulity. Yes, that is really what I am talking about here. The idea is that all citizens are part of the State's, "well-regulated militia" that may be armed, and specifically with clearly visible weapons. <br/><br/>Reactive fire, that is responding to an attack, is a police nightmare. Policing agencies spend many hours, and a good bit of money training using "good guy - bad guy" images to teach officers when to fire and at which targets. Open carry makes the job harder. The police may not assume that an armed person may be a legitimate target if almost anyone may have a holster or shoulder carrier with a gun in clear view. <br/><br/> It gets worse. If you have a shooting incident, and some of the civilians are armed, they may decide (especially in a panic situation) to deploy and possibly fire the weapons they are carrying. The potential for chaos, stampede, and accidental casualties is huge. And now the police have to try to distinguish between well-intentioned citizens and the criminals. <br/><br/>So where do I come down on open carry? I think it is a bad idea. But what I think may not matter much. Here in Illinois, and in a number of other States, "strict constructionist" conservative jurists have been forcing States to accept what advocates call, "gun owner's rights" based on the Second Amendment. So, even in States where the polity does not particularly want an armed society, we are getting one. <br/><br/>Among the great American myths is the frontier. When the society was too constraining, be it England, France, Germany, Ireland, Boston, New York, or even St. Louis, the frontier myth says it is time to move on. Lerner and Lowe captured the feeling in their Musical, "Paint Your Wagon." When it is time to move on, one paints the wagon, loads the essentials, harnesses the mules, and moves along. We have become much too settled a nation for that now, or have we? <br/><br/>The lunatics have captured a good part of the asylum. Congress is completely dysfunctional, the idiots are refusing to vaccinate kids, and theocrats have captured the public face of what was once Christianity. Maybe it is time to paint the wagon. I am old, way too old to start over. But none-the-less, I have been reading up on how to manage mules. <br/></div>Jimnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3795176.post-13664321127164387502015-02-02T16:59:00.000-06:002015-02-02T16:59:39.277-06:00<div style="background-color: #f6cef5; border: 10px 0px 10px 0px; font-size: 140%; line-height: 145%; padding: 3px 7px 3px 7px;"><br />One of the mysteries that frustrates those of us on the progressive side of the street, is the way so many States (typically called the "red states" in our media") generate majorities that vote against their own interests. A map now circulating on the net shows those States with the higher poverty numbers correlate with those choosing Republican government. <br /><br />We are a Republic: States may choose as they wish. The head scratching for Progressives, and Democrat politicians arises because the choices are so counter-intuitive. One might think of Parisian mobs supporting the aristocrats. I am struck by the question of what Pete Carroll was thinking at the (odd!) end of the Super Bowl. It is not that one may not make choices, I just do not understand how the choices make sense to anyone. <br /><br />I was surprised to note today that I have not posted since New Years. This has been an unintentional hiatus. I have written and discarded a number of things. Is that, "writer's block?" I do not know. But if it is, I hope I am over it!<br /><blockquote></blockquote></div>Jimnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3795176.post-62512319348133272812014-12-31T15:25:00.000-06:002014-12-31T15:25:34.419-06:00"Slum of a Year"<div style="background-color: #f6cef5; border: 10px 0px 10px 0px; font-size: 140%; line-height: 145%; padding: 3px 7px 3px 7px;"><br />A former friend of mine's father-in-law used to say of the 20th century that it was a, "slum of a century". He would point to the Shoah, two world wars, the atomic bombing of Japan, poverty and starvation in much of the third war, and widely ascendant Marxism, before resting his case. I agreed with him then, and now.<br /><br />2014 will be remembered as a slum of a year. Aside from my personal losses, home, friends, and self-image, consider the election of a luddite majority to our Congress, the resurgence of the worst aspects of American racism, Ebola which is destroying Sierra Leone, the increasingly obvious self-segregation of American populations, one word: Fergeson, emergent fascism in New York's police unions, and murder of civilian populations in Eastern Europe, and especially Syria. Throw in the very worst aspects of theocracy is Syria, Egypt, and Iran, the unbridled sexism and homophobia apparent in Africa, and like the late Mr. Feldmann, I rest my case.<br /><br />In our own lives, my left hand is injured. Treatment will continue into the new year, I may yet salvage the use of my finger. We lost one of our longest and closest friends: Brian. He was a good person who deserved a better ending. His sister-in-law and we tried and at least saw him, as the ancient Kelts said, "well sped." His wife, another long and dear friend has been incapacitated by a stroke. We are transitioning away from the foreclosure of our home. Neither of us is, "handling it all well." I am not at all sure we should.<br /><br />And yet through all of this, the song of St. Paul resonates. "Rejoice! And again I will say, "rejoice." And so tomorrow, I shall make a fairly nice if not spectacular dinner, served for what may be the last time on our heirloom plates. Tonight a few of us will gather with a toast to the arrival of 2015. And we will attempt to rejoice as we move along in the universe created for mankind, and sometimes ill-treated by us.<br /><br />Rejoice! Today is the 8th day of Christmas!</div>Jimnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3795176.post-67480399315453516412014-12-31T14:53:00.002-06:002014-12-31T15:26:18.945-06:0031 December 2014. 8th Day of Christmas.31 December 2014. &nbsp;8th Day of Christmas<br /><div style="background-color: #f6cef5; border: 10px 0px 10px 0px; font-size: 140%; line-height: 145%; padding: 3px 7px 3px 7px;"><br />Yes there is a point to my header. &nbsp;In a real sense, Christmas (remember Christmas?) is about how we think about of time. Jesus comes after all of Creation holds its breath and time stops, waiting for a teenage girl, not a saint, merely a young woman who tries to behave as a young Israelite woman should, considers Gabriel's message. With a single sentence, "I am the servant of Adoni; let it be for me as you say." That acceptance turns time on its ear.<br /><br />Now, sages&nbsp;begin to travel towards Jerusalem. Now an infertile couple conceives and a son is named, John. Now, all through Palestine, the new message, that the kingdom of God is at hand will be preached, and heard. From her acceptance forward calendars are changed.<br /><br />Our common usage, either "A.D. or C.E" arises from that girl's acceptance. The secular, and anti-Christian world have moved to a midWinter event that works perfectly well without Miriam. I think that is very, very sad.<br /><br />What is joyful is the effect of Love, the Word made flesh dwelling among us, and the ministry of salvation that all came from that calm, "as you say". &nbsp;The world was forever changed. Are you? Am I?<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div>Jimnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3795176.post-15429008595702349782014-12-13T11:40:00.000-06:002014-12-31T15:27:35.627-06:00No Excuse<div style="background-color: #f6cef5; border: 10px 0px 10px 0px; font-size: 140%; line-height: 145%; padding: 3px 7px 3px 7px;">Somehow, the idea that if the use of torture produces, "actionable intelligence" it is acceptable has slithered into the debate arising from the Senate report. I am appalled. Nothing in the national experience or the literature suggests that torture produces useful information, and yet there is one thing that has to be shouted: it does not matter. There is no advantage, none, that justifies this evil. <br /><br />One of the many things Ayn Rand was wrong about is the simple fact is that there are actual moral norms. Some things, torture among them simply never can be acceptable. Ever! Immoral conduct does not become moral because we might gain some (illusory) advantage. <br /><br />If I were younger, and thought anyone would take me, I would consider emigrating. A nation that uses evil we once condemned at Nuremberg, no longer deserves allegiance. A nation that protects former Vice-president Cheney is no nation of laws. I recall being told by "conservatives" that, "America is the moral actor in international affairs." No one can defend that proposition after this report. <br /><br />This is what Cheney and the torturers have done. They captured no terrorists, made the country less secure, and taken giant steps towards the destruction of our democratic country. I fear that such destruction is precisely what the theocrats want. If this is not bad enough, the failure of the Obama administration to prosecute the evildoers and incredibly using the defense offered at Nuremberg, obeying orders, makes the stench worse. <br /><br />Maybe it is time to paint the wagon. </div>Jimnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3795176.post-60382668909723492302014-12-12T11:36:00.000-06:002014-12-12T16:09:45.698-06:00So let it be with Cesar<div style="background-color: #f6cef5; border: 10px 0px 10px 0px; font-size: 140%; line-height: 145%; padding: 3px 7px 3px 7px;">When I was a high school student, Lyon's Twp High, uniquely in the Chicago area, required that we read a fair amount of Shakespeare. I treasure that aspect of my education. Knowing Shakespeare's plays or at least some of them, not only helps a person understand a lot of common phrases, it also leads, as our instructors believed, to an appreciation of good writing.<br /><br />So, when I read this amazing <a href="http://www.anglicannews.org/news/2014/12/2014-standing-committee-2-bulletin-days-2-to-4.aspx">report</a> I was carried back to a part of Julius Ceasar I memorized and delivered back in 1961. Here is Marc Antony, in his famous eulogy for Ceasar<br /><blockquote>The evil that men do lives after them;<br />The good is oft interred with their bones;<br />So let it be with Caesar. <br /><br /><cite> Shakespeare, "Julius Ceasar," Act III Scene II found at:http://shakespeare.mit.edu/julius_caesar/full.html</cite></blockquote><br />Yes(!) the Anglican Communion Office still considers the Covenant to be under provincial review! I suppose we should not be surprised. One of the many criticisms that the No Anglican Covenant Coalition leveled was that it came without any time limits on ratification. <br/><br/>This is a problem we Americans know a bit about. The U.S. Constitution requires that amendments be circulated to the States for approval. Initially, no time constraints applied. At one point a number of amendments, some rather frivolous, were in the approval process and had been so for decades. <br /><br />So now the question becomes what to do with a thoroughly discredited Covenant that no one really thinks will help the Communion either find or retain cohesion? The answer is "no one knows." What we do know is the thing is simply not going to be the governing framework for the Communion. England, Canada, Scotland, Brazil, New Zealand, and most of Africa have rejected it. TEC will never approve it, but was misled into a sort of limbo, away from simple honesty by a committee chair who certainly should have known better. <br /><br />The good that Rowan Williams did while Archbishop is largely forgotten. The singular failure of his term, his decent into institutionalism, is enshrined in the Covenant and lives on. His successor cannot convene a "primate's meeting," nor a meeting of the ACC, because either would make the schism visible. Were he to call any such meeting, a substantial number of, "GAFCON" churches would boycott. The illusion of a unified or even fractious community would vanish. Only one on those meetings might be able to formally kill the Covenant. But even that authority could be disputed. No matter, there simply won't be a meeting. <br /><br />And so, as is so often the case, the evil men, do lives on. Shakespeare was right about Ceasar and right about archbishops. While that evil lives on, those of us who helped, even in some minor way, stop the drive to destroy the Communion, must remain vigilant. Evil lives on.</div>Jimnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3795176.post-54365425320407898282014-12-01T18:12:00.000-06:002014-12-01T18:12:50.635-06:00Another Embarrasment Departs<div style="background-color: #f6cef5; border: 10px 0px 10px 0px; font-size: 140%; line-height: 145%; padding: 3px 7px 3px 7px;">Elizabeth Lauten was until recently, a highly placed staffer for a Republican Congressman. Over the weekend, she ended her career when she Tweeted a nasty attack on Sasha and Malia Obama. The sisters, looking like bored teenagers attended the "pardoning" ceremony for Mac and Cheese, the two lucky turkeys Mr. Obama, "pardoned" this year. <br/><br/>This whole ceremony is a recent tradition. Mr. Truman began it in 1947. It appears a number or the "pardoned" turkeys were eaten over the years, but of late they have been given a chance to live out their lives on a farm. <br/><br/>The simple fact is the whole thing is sort of silly. But, silly can be cute, and America can use some cute in its excessively partisan world. One of the rules, not one in concrete or law, but deeply in custom, is that politicians do not attack each other's kids. Ms. Lauten broke that rule. Now she has, "resigned." "Resigned" is frequently in political circles a nice word for "fired." I do not know exactly what happened, whether she offered to resign or was asked. The impact of her lack of restraint is clear. <br/><br/>In our 24 hour, 7 day a week news cycle, with social media at the ready every moment, any lapse can be and likely will be costly. The question is should that be the way we live? Yes, the comment was beyond rude. And yes, it broke to no kids ar attacked rule. And yes Mr. & Mrs. Obama have stayed quiet and "above the fray" as the saying goes. And yes, Ms. Lauten has paid for her error. <br/><br/>My only question is should that be the result? Actually, I have two questions. The other has to do with the, "talk show hosts" who make her lack of manners look like great behaviour. How do they keep their jobs and influence? </div>Jimnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3795176.post-8304302515837839232014-11-29T12:07:00.000-06:002014-11-29T12:07:41.592-06:00Statute of Limitations<div style="background-color: #f6cef5; border: 10px 0px 10px 0px; font-size: 140%; line-height: 145%; padding: 3px 7px 3px 7px;">Some of the news is making me think about how long penalties continue, or how long we hold something against a person. <br/><br/>Consider the sad case of Ray Rice. The facts of his conduct are not in dispute. He did punch his then girlfriend, and knock her out. The NFL, with its suddenly heightened sense of outrage suspended him, and his team terminated his contract. My understanding is that he and his now wife are working on anger management issues with professional help. Mr. Rice is now, thanks to an arbiter's ruling, eligible to play, and is a free agent. He can be signed by any team in the league. <br/><br/>Mr. Rice is a world class running back. Any team can negotiate a contract and pick up an impact player. He would need to learn the new team's playbook, but if your team is looking at a playoff run, he would be a potential asset. I do not know if he has been working out to stay in playing shape, but my hunch is he has. <br/><br/>So here the questions: will someone offer him a contract? If he does return, will the fans react with anger? <br/><br/>Another case, another profession. In Nevada, the speaker-elect, one Ira Hansen <a href="http://www.inquisitr.com/1631318/new-nevada-gop-house-speaker-resigns-following-racist-anti-gay-past-uncovered/">resigned</a> after a newspaper article accused him of being a racist and homophobe. The accusations were based on things he said, some in columns he wrote for a Nevada papter, <i>thirteen years ago.</i> <br/><br/>This man may be a racist homophobe. I do not know. What I do know is that I would not want everything I said or wrote thirteen years ago examined and then used as evidence against me. In thirteen years, my views, and society's views have changed. I may have said something at least insensitive thirteen years ago. Happily, I do not recall, and I do not think anyone else does. <br/><br/>So here is my question. When is enough enough? We have reached a moment that makes, "racist" a totally destructive. "Homophobe," and wife or child abuser are not far behind. Mr. Rice has served his suspension time. Should he be considered by teams that need a running back -- now especially when almost no good backs are available? <br/><br/>I dunno. I have to believe people can learn, that repentance matters. If that is not true, my only hope for eternity is dashed. "Let he among you who is without sin cast the first stone." </div>Jimnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3795176.post-65474486821320737442014-11-27T11:33:00.000-06:002014-11-28T15:53:59.174-06:00Thanksgiving 2014<div style="background-color: #f6cef5; border: 10px 0px 10px 0px; font-size: 140%; line-height: 145%; padding: 3px 7px 3px 7px;">Thanksgiving, with Mother's Day and Independence Day form the triad of civic holidays that in large part define America. We Americans, even and perhaps especially those whose ancestors had no part in the early colonies, claim the first European settlers. We claim their ideas of religious liberty, freedom of thought, rejection of monarchy, and the magnificent poetry Jefferson wrote to declare our independence as our own nation. We affirm our connection to our families in our faithful love of our moms.<br /><br />In a sense there is nothing unique about this. Everyone, except for the nutcases that form the Taliban, loves and respects their moms. Most people claim and affirm their country, albeit a lot of them seem to want to leave them and come here.<br /><br />If anything makes us unique, it is the diversity of our ancestors and our fanatic cleaving to our ideas about liberty. Only Canada can come close to our experience of immigrants. Few if any countries demand the "rights" Americans expect.<br /><span style="font-size: 140%; line-height: 145%;">&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><br />The temptation, especially on Thanksgiving is to paint the picture of this land in gold tone. We are one nation, under some god or another, joined in the immortal prose of Jefferson and Lincoln. Bound by the vision of Moroe, Madison and Adams, we are we say, one out of many.<br /><br />Which is why, this day, this year, the violence and racism of Ferguson Missouri, and the disgusting racism in some reactions, &nbsp;hits so hard. We do not like the mirror's report, nor should we. Ferguson, and Fox show us our failures and our realities: we do not like it.<br /><br />We do not like the picture because it shows us something we want to deny. Black experience of America is that the police repress, kill, and limit. White experience is that they, "serve and protect." White experience is that a defendant is innocent until proven guilty. Black experience is that Lt. Berge (ex-Chicago Police) beats confessions from black and Latino people. White Americans tell themselves stories about how race is not the problem, that it is all a matter of class. Black Americans know they <i>are a class.</i> <br /><br /><br />This holiday, we cannot duck the mirror. We cannot duck the anger that leads African-Americans who should know better to burn their own neighborhoods. Riots never help. Decades after the last race riots in L.A. and Chicago, the burnouts are still visible. <br/><br/>We simply must fix this. Unless we actually become one people forged from many, we are doomed. Paul said that in the kingdom of God, there is neither slave nor freedman. A century and more after the Emancipation, Americans still do not get that. The worst offenders against the freedman, are the loudest proclaimers of the (silly) idea that America is, "a Christian Nation." Read Mathew on judgement, look at what we do, and tremble. <div style="background-color: #AAAAAA; color: red;border: 10px 0px 10px 0px; font-size: 100%; line-height: 105%; padding: 3px 7px 3px 7px;"> Note: In response to some offline comments. Yes I am sure some member of the Taliban loves and respects his mom. I think he is an exception. <br/><br/></DIV></div>Jimnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3795176.post-83418590714184867432014-11-25T14:36:00.001-06:002014-11-25T14:36:32.649-06:00In the News ... ...<div style="background-color: #f6cef5; border: 10px 0px 10px 0px; font-size: 140%; line-height: 145%; padding: 3px 7px 3px 7px;">Politicians of all parties have learned to consider the news cycle when releasing information. There is nothing wrong with this. We create the peaks and valleys in impact because how we pay attention varies. That is not the politician's doing and they would be derelict if they paid no attention to our activity. Weekend news is sports news, especially during football season. So stories released in November on a Friday, raise suspicions. Friday evening releases are the intended kiss of death. Someone wants those stories buried - deep. <br/><br/>Bloggers and some news folks, have also learned. We look at what gets released at close of business Friday, and ask "why?" <br/><br/>Which leads us to Benghazi. Friday. At close of business, the House Intelligence Committee released its report on the Benghazi Consulate attack and response. The committee had its choice of release times. No one could compel it to choose one. And like all committees in the House, its controlling majority is Republican. To a significant degree, that is what is won, when a party wins the election. <br/><br/>So, the Republicans wanted the report buried in indifference and football. Now the question becomes why. We know what they did, it is the motive that is worth considering. <br/><br/>In the aftermath of the attack, Republicans have launched a series of over 50 investigations. The intent of these is always proclaimed to be a search for the conspiracy to cover up security failures, refusals of support to embattled security forces, and false statementsx. Over and over again, the investigations do not find any conspiracy to conceal any facts, nor have they identified any procedural failures by the security forces. One might think they are not finding it because it does not exist. Republican loony toons in Congress however, have simply announced another investigation. <br/><br/>Now, the House Intelligence Committee, which is of course controlled by the Republicans, issued its comprehensive report. Congress has subpoena power, and the committee was able to call and investigate anyone they thought might have information. Interestingly, to me at least, the Obama Administration made no assertions of executive privilege. The result? No plot, no refusals of assistance, and no cover up. If anyone has culpability on the U.S. side, it is Congress. The Administration has been asking for and not getting, increased funding for over-seas security. <br/><br/>The GOP now hopes the report, and the political noise around Benghazi will now quietly die. The loony toons, starting with Senator Cruz will forget their support of the vast conspiracy theories. <br/><br/>I do not think so. I think the Democratic Party would be crazy if it failed to waive the 50 some odd investigations the GOP has supported above the head of Speaker Boehner, and whoever is finally the presidential nominee. News cycle or no, this report will not die. <br/><br/>There is an issue out there. But we won't see it discussed. That issue is the pairing of a CIA station with a consulate. And there is another policy question: why did we have a CIA operation in Benghazi. Those questions, the Republicans do not seem to want to ask. And I wonder why. I suspect, but do not know, that the presence of the CIA operation rather than the presence of the consulate, that made the location a target. That no one wants to ask about that leads to the thought that there was something going on. <br/> </div/>Jimnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3795176.post-81307580524633459342014-11-21T09:56:00.000-06:002014-11-21T09:58:40.214-06:00Process and WritingOne of the "buttons" on the blog software's editor allows an author to delete a post. This button can be a really handy item. <br/><br/>I think many writers come to appreciate that delete key. We can vent, sometimes both vicious and vociferously, and when we have finished our rant, delete it.Sometimes that is the best thing to do, even when you are right. <br/><br/>That explains why I have not posted for a few days. Posts have been written, but then deleted. <br/><br/>I discourage reading my stuff, such as it is and what there is of it, by some groups. I do not, for instance, generally make the blog visible to the electronic community in my parish, and indeed block some of them. (Bloggers can do that sort of thing.) <br/><br/>My reasons for doing that vari, but the dominant one is a certain desire to avoid uneccesary conflict within the group. I am aware that at least some people are not interested, and are affronted if they are forced to consider, the topic. It is not my role to force them to think about things. And it is my role to try to avoid arguements in some groups. <br/><br/>So, nothing much new here today. I will see about tomorrow. Jimnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3795176.post-65082707006920524492014-11-18T09:51:00.003-06:002014-11-18T09:51:34.751-06:00More on the RCL<div style="background-color: #f6cef5; border: 10px 0px 10px 0px; font-size: 140%; line-height: 145%; padding: 3px 7px 3px 7px;">This week, as the liturgical year winds down, Anglicans, Lutherans, Orthodox, Catholics, and some Protestants heard the story of Noah. That is not really a part of the Exodus story we have been following, it just sort of appears. It does the same thing in Scripture. There really are no obvious reasons in the text for the story to appear where it does. <br /><br />The Noah story is almost certainly an insertion. Documents older than the Biblical texts, in "cuniform" the clay tablet writing of the Babylonian and Persian periods, have been found with the story incised into their surfaces. It is fairly clear that the story was added as a result of the period most of the Hebrew elite spent in captivity. We do not know who added it or their motivation. <br /><br />Suddenly, the story simply appears in Scripture. And so too, with no to me at least, obvious reason, it appears in the Lectionary. This was its Sunday. <br /><br />It is odd the way some of the readings affect people. Noah is perhaps a good example of unexpected consequences. Most people read it as the story of God saving a remnant. Others (among them one of my regular readers) read it as the story of God executing entire populations, including children for the manner of life of their parents. <br /><br />Musically, there are a fair number of songs, mostly children's, that concentrate on the saving of the animals. Frequently they get the details wrong. The animals were not, for instance, loaded, "two by two." I recall asking my mom why it would be "two by two" and being told I would understand later. (Ah the post war German Lutheran sense of propriety!) <br /><br />Others see the story of those dead, drowned, children. <br /><br />I consider the story, inserted as it was, a fiction. I suppose one might cast it as a parable, but I do not see how that works. it is not at all clear how the story can be read to carry the attributes of a parable. <br /><br />In any event, it is there. It gets read, and most preachers in my memory immediately turn to the Epistle and Gospel readings for their sermons. I wonder how much of the Scripture that suffers a similar fate? I can think of several passages.<br /><br />In a sense, the reading of Noah is a great reason not to be a fundamentalist. That alone may be the best reason it is in the lectionary. The speed with which we move to sermons about the RCL's other lessons perhaps leaves us with the cute, "two by two" view and not enough critical thought. The lectionary is perhaps not designed to answer questions, but to raise them. <br /><br>I think I may consider building an "I hate the RCL" website. <br/><br /></div>Jimnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3795176.post-76035105105763454032014-11-09T16:23:00.000-06:002014-11-12T12:07:32.627-06:00Kristallnacht 2014 Choose THIS Day<div style="background-color: #f6cef5; border: 10px 0px 10px 0px; font-size: 140%; line-height: 145%; padding: 3px 7px 3px 7px;"><br />This year's RCL<sup>i</sup> readings follow the story of the Exodus. We are near the end of church year, so it is unsurprising that <br /><ol style="background-color: #adff85;"><li>we are near the end of the Exodus story.</li><li>The readings are clearly selected to encourage good stewardship practices</li></ol><br />Ah, but history has been moving on since 2,000 BCE (give or take.) And the horrible, blood stained, 20<sup>th</sup> century has marked the day in a particularly ugly way. In 1938, on this day, Hitler and his minions unleashed a major, vicious "pogrom<sup><i>ii</i></sup>" against German, Polish, and Austrian Jews. So many homes and shops were vandalized that streets and sidewalks were littered with broken glass. It is those shards of broken glass that gave a horrible night of looting, beating, murder, and rape its infamous name: Kristallnacht. <br /><br />In the days immediately after Kristallnacht, the Germans waited. It is hard to know what the Germans might have done if, as they feared, France, England, USA, and other, "Civilized Nations" had reacted with sanctions, denunciations, or even war warnings. Except for the crunch of broken glass under the boots worn by SA<sup>iii</sup> and SS bullies, all was silence. The maxim at civil law is, "silence betokens consent." The Shoah had begun born in the cowardly silence. <br /><br />In Christian churches this morning,we heard Joshua's call to the ancient Hebrews, "Choose this day, whom you will serve." <br /><br />This week, an amazing 67% of eligible American voters did not bother to cast ballots. They chose indifference. <br /><br />A budget is a moral document. How we spend our money tells us what we choose to consider essential. In stewardship campaign responses, and in our polity, we make (or cause representatives to make) choices. We choose, and sometimes we choose horrible evil. The choices of November 1938 reverberate through our world to this day. <br /><br />That is the lesson of Kristallnacht for Christians. What we choose, how we embrace social justice, and moral action matters. <br /><br />Vestries<sup><i>iiii</i></sup> generally do not get to make major moral choices. In a sense, we are limited by the choices of history. We have the building, clergy, musicians, support staff, utilities, and expectations that often absorb more cash than our income as known line items in our budgets. Questions of funding ministry, charity, outreach, social justice are all limited by cashflow and what we might call the, "givens." It is "given" that we have an organist, a sexton, a priest, a diocese. (We Episcopalians, cannot function without a diocese. It is the Bishop who is always even when absent, the primary celebrant of the mass.) <br /><br />But it should not be so. If parishes received the pledges Joshua expected, "first fruits," actual tithes, and real service, the "given" expenses would not be issues. Suddenly, we could fund the things we should. Suddenly, social justice ministries, which for Episcopalians probably involves both pickets and lawyers, would be on offer. <br /><br />Not taking Joshua seriously; we are silent. We cannot look down on Chamberlin, Roosevelt, and the "League of Nations." True, they did nothing, true the silence gave the Shoah birth. But we by our silence, our inaction, our lack of commitment, contribute evil in our day. <br /><br />Spirituality IS Stewardship. Silence is Consent. We choose. We face Joshua's warning: we are witnesses against ourselves. <br /><br />Ask yourself! How would the world be different if on 10 November 1938 The Times; 10 Downing Street; Le Monde; The NY Times; Congress; Parliment; and the Assembly Nationale had received thousands of outrage telegrams? How would the world be different if each of us paid attention and then listened to St. Paul<br /><blockquote>Each of you must give as you have made up your mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.</blockquote><br />This day, an anniversary of infamy, demands commitment, and repentance. Commit to faith, worship, and stewardship of course. But also commit to social justice, defense of the defenseless, charity, and proclamation - both of the Gospel and the name of evil. <br /><br />Finally, this day, we need to repent, to name before God our silences, our contribution to evil both historic and current. We need to commit, <b>"Never Again!"</b> <br /><br />This day, <u>we</u> must choose. </div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><i>i</i> The "Revised Common Lectionary" (RCL) is a standardized set of liturgical readings, Hebrew Bible, Psalm, Epistle and Gospel agreed to by Roman Catholic, Orthodox, Anglican, and many Protestant churches. As you might expect, it is a bit less than, "common." Various holy days and saint day remembrances force separate Anglican, Roman, Orthodox, and "other" tracks. None-the-less it is in general use among most non-Evangelical churches.<br /><i>ii</i> "Pogrom" 1 an organized massacre of helpless people; specifically : such a massacre of Jews From <a href="http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pogrom">merriam-webster.com</a><br /><i>iii</i> The "SA" were Hitler's original bullies. They were in turn, massacred by the SS in a later purge. At the time they were more terrifying than the SS.<br /><i>iiii</i>A vestry is the elected lay leaders of an Anglican parish. They function as a working leadership group, and legally as the directors of the parish's corporation. Jimnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3795176.post-21494906501277395782014-11-06T12:02:00.004-06:002014-11-08T09:56:15.703-06:00Pot-Election Thoughts<div style="background-color: #f6cef5; border: 10px 0px 10px 0px; font-size: 140%; line-height: 145%; padding: 3px 7px 3px 7px;">OK, my guys, won in Illinois, with one stunning exception, and lost nationally. Sort of a mix to say the least. <br/><br/>Over-all, my guys, got clobbered. The Republicans got out their vote, and used voter suppression laws to keep Democrats from voting. It appears to me the laws were sort of a waste, Democrats weren't going to vote anyway. At the end of the day, their strategies trumping the complete lack of strategy on the other side, were enough. <br/><br/>It is interesting to speculate about what is coming. Here in Illinois, I predict gridlock. Democrats easily retained control of the Assembly. Governor-elect Rauner will be in his first political office. Mike Madigan who controls the House in the Assembly eats neophytes for lunch. About half of the constitutional offices will be held by Democrats, including Secretary of State Jesse White, and State's Attorney General, Lisa Madigan. Rauner will faithfully propose the tax and budget policies he ran on. The Assembly will ignore him as will much of the government. <br/><br/>My view of Rauner is that he makes what I call the, "Ross Perot Error." That is, he thinks he can dictate policy the way he does in board meetings. Constitutional government does not work that way. We will have 4 stagnant, conflict filled years. I hope that is what Illinois voters wanted. <br/><br/>The 2016 presidential campaign started Tuesday evening. National gridlock is coming. Mr.Obama can probably veto most if not all of the Republican agenda: they can refuse to pass his. Already, the cleavages in the Republican majority are visible. Senators range from Senator Paul a frank libertarian, to Senato Cruz a Tea Part nut. Senator-elect Ernst is poised to make Cruz appear almost normal. No one should envy Senator McConnell. <br/><br/>The irony of this election is that where voters could vote on <i>policy</i> the progressive /liberals won. So in a number of States, pot is a bit more legal, minimum wages are going up, and voting as a right is a bit more protected. Even in Florida, where the vote to legalize pot failed, it carried a majority. Amending that State's constitution requires a super majority of 60%, and the amendment got <i>only</i> 57%. Republicans should remember that electing Democrats only requires 50% + 1. <br/><br/>In two years, Democrats need to be ready to actually contest the election. They need a new chair, and a new vision of how to elect Congresspeople and Senators. Relying on the Tea Party to provide candidates so stupid that they motivate the center vote is no longer if it ever was, a reasonable tactic. The Republican ultra-right remains as crazy as ever, but with Koch money, it is learning to pick more rational appearing candidates. <br/><br/>In the meantime, little if anything will be done, Senators Cruz and Ernst will provide both outrage and comedy as walk-on replacements for Congresswoman Bachmann. Watching her and Sarah Palin jostle each other reaching for the Bachmann microphone may provide some amusing theatre. <font color=red>In response to some mail: yes of course there are also Democratic clowns! </font> I hope gentle reader that you wanted a 2 year presidential campaign with clowns. Because that is what you just voted to have. <br/> </div>Jimnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3795176.post-70252740041401103622014-11-01T09:18:00.002-05:002014-11-01T09:20:01.549-05:00Are We Really That Stupid?<div style="background-color: #f6cef5; border: 10px 0px 10px 0px; font-size: 140%; line-height: 145%; padding: 3px 7px 3px 7px;">I have been watching the political reaction to the current Ebola outbreak with growing amazement. The incredible incompetence of our governors, from both parties, is stunning. <br /><br />For the record you cannot get Ebola from mere proximity to a health care volunteer who is coming home from Africa - period. Even if, God forbid, the heroic nurse or doctor who is returning eventually develops (God forbid) Ebola, they are not contagious until they become feverish. Even then the fever has to get rather high (100.4<sup>f</sup> ) before the contagion risk is high. <br /><br />You do not have to take my word for any of this, although any literate person is more of an expert than Bobby Jindal! Here is a link to a <a href="http://www.cdc.gov/vhf/ebola/outbreaks/2014-west-africa/qa.html"> page written by actual experts.</a> Click over to that page and stop worrying. The number one defense from Ebola is hand washing and hand sanitizer! <br /><br />The real threat from Ebola is to our polity. Yes, States should use their power to quarantine when there is a real threat. But not when we <i>know</i> there is no no medical reason. The potential damage to our republic if governors start using their health powers to confine innocent non-threatening people. It is a short step to the bad old days of McCarthy. We must not allow ourselves to approach that time. <br /><br />Politicians do not lead. The act when they think they know what the voters want. In this case, the disregard of the medical experts, the political use of the quarantine is what they think <i>we</i> want. We are scared of the disease, and afraid of nurses and doctors. <br /><br />If you want to be afraid of a disease, be afraid of influenza. Ebola has killed one person in America. Influenza kills between 5 and 30 <i>thousand</i> every year. Arguably failure to vaccinate a child against influenza is abuse. We cannot quarantine agaais influenza, it is too widely contracted and it is airborne. But we can vaccinate. If you do not, that is a great reason to be very afaid. <br/><br/>In the case of Ebola, while we can fault governors for bullying; it is we who should be ashamed: of us. <br /></div>Jimnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3795176.post-55907995600764317032014-10-27T15:41:00.000-05:002014-10-27T15:46:42.966-05:00Lies, Damn Lies, and <div style="background-color: #f6cef5; border: 10px 0px 10px 0px; font-size: 140%; line-height: 145%; padding: 5px 7px 5px 7px;">When I was doing a lot of statistical programing, it was often said that, "there are 3 kinds of lies, "lies, damn lies, and statistics." I cannot speak for others, but the people worked for and with, and I worked hard to let the data speak. We did not come to the data with preconceptions. And those who collected the data similarly, sought to gather reality, not some picture they were painting. <br/><br/>So, if I begin with, "Lies, Damn Lies, and _________" what goes into the blank? Thanks to radio ads, here is an answer! Thank you Jim Oberweis! <br/><br/>Oberweis is the current perennial candidate in Illinois. He has run unsuccessfully for various State offices, and is the current Republican nominee for Senate. I am cynical enough to think he got the nomination because no rational person wanted to run against Senator Durbin. Oberweis, whom I would never suggest is a reasonable person seems however to think he has a chance, and is running a lot of ads. He has an advantage to the GOP, a combination of unbridled ambition, and a lot of money. So he can largely self-finance a doomed campaign. <br/><br/>Which leads back to our blank. Believe it or not, Oberweis is out with an ad that tries to blame Senator Durbin for, "the gridlock in Washingon!" OK, go ahead and laugh: I did! <br/><br/>Washington where the (Republican) Speaker says success is measured by not passing bills, where (Republican) Senator Cruz and (Republican) Congressman Ryan consider letting the government shut down a good thing, in <i>that</i> Washington, somehow a Democratic Senator is responsible for gridlock! <br/><br/>Apparently Faux News logic is contagious. I suppose if Senator Durbin were in favor of dismantling equality for various minorities, impeaching the president for criminal Blackness, and outlawing unions, there would arguably not be gridlock. <br/><br/>So, my little blog has an endorsement. Illinois, re-elect Richard (Dick) Durban. As a US Senator, he is diligent, has a good record of being willing to work on a bi-partisan basis to actually solve problems, and maintains a commitment to equal rights. He is in short a reasonable choice. His opponent is the answer to the blank: Lies, Damn Lies, and Oberweis Ads. <br/><br/></div>Jimnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3795176.post-54779895349924204932014-10-24T22:38:00.001-05:002014-10-27T15:06:30.009-05:00"Old Age Is A Shipwreck"<div style="background-color: #f6cef5; border: 10px 0px 10px 0px; font-size: 140%; line-height: 145%; padding: 5px 0px 5px 0px;">The story of Marshal Petain, the great general of WWI whose collaboration with the Nazis after France was invaded by Hitler dimmed his achievements is a great tragedy. When he was endorsing the verdict of the trial court that convicted Petain or treason, De Galle is reported to have said, "Old Age is a Shipwreck." Tonight as one of our longest friendships ends with the passing of Brian from life through death to glory, I see the waves breaking on the rocks. <br /><br />Brian, a PhD mathematician, and amazingly bright man was always good for a joke or observation. He had the remarkably good taste to love Pat who has been Sue-z's best friend since they met in 1960. We four, camping buddies, drinking buddies, and yes sometimes pot smoking buddies, have shared a long road, and a loving road. <br /><br />Old age is a shipwreck.<br/><br/>Brian lost a leg to diabetes, and a heart valve to aging. He was however in remarkably good spirits when last we talked. He was hoping to get out of rehab and home soon. Things did not work out that way. <br /><br />He developed pneumonia, and became comatose early this week. As I write this, the hospital staff is withdrawing the life support technology. He likely will die before dawn. His wife will be with him and our prayers for him will carry him heavenward. Ah but it is hard, hard, to loose friends. <br /><br />Old age is a shipwreck. <br /><br />Sue-z and I are sitting with my daughter-in-law sipping sweet wine and toasting him and his entry into paradise. We have what our Lutheran friends call the "Glad hope of a joyous reunion." But we are still weeping. <br /><br />Old age is a shipwreck. </div>Jimnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3795176.post-54830961232203875772014-10-18T11:02:00.001-05:002014-10-22T15:00:33.193-05:00Tex-Mex Pork Pie<div style="background-color: #f6cef5; border: 10px 0px 10px 0px; font-size: 140%; line-height: 145%; padding: 5px 0px 5px 0px;">I posted this picture of this on Facebook and had some requests for the recipe. Here it is. I hope you like it.<br/><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ivfNMPeMF4Y/VEgLEvTaCcI/AAAAAAAABV8/j_bgVfN_vno/s1600/2014-10-16%2B19.22.13%2B(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ivfNMPeMF4Y/VEgLEvTaCcI/AAAAAAAABV8/j_bgVfN_vno/s320/2014-10-16%2B19.22.13%2B(2).jpg" /></a></div><br/> <b>Ingredients:</b> <ul><li>1 Tbs oil</li><li>1 1/2 to 2 pounds pork shoulder or loin meat.</li><li>1 can sweet corn or hominy (either color)</li><li>1 Cup salsa (we like white corn and black beans but Salsa Verde might be interesting)</li><li>1/2 Cup water</li><li>1 shallot</li><li>8 - 12 oz extra sharp cheddar cheese shredded. </li><li>1 Tsp (or more) Goya brand Adobo all purpose seasoning with Cumin</li><li>1 Tsp (or more)chili powder </li><li>1/2 Tsp ground cumin</li><li>1 Tsp freshly ground black pepper</li><li>1 package GF corn bread mix. We like LiveGFree<sup>tm</sup> which is the Aldi's <sup>tm</sup>house brand, but Bob's Redmill is good too</li><li>oil, milk and eggs as required by the mix.</li> </ul><b>Equipment:</b><ul><li>A large skillet (I use a 12" cast iron pan, but any heavy oven proof pan will work.)</li><li>Alternately use two pans, one large saute pan and one large over-proof casserole dish or deep pie or pizza pan.</li></ul><b>Method:</b><br/><br/>Heat oil in skillet over medium high heat.<br/>Heat oven to 400f.<br/>Trimming away excess fat, cut the pork into 3/4 to 1" cubes.` Season with Adobo, pepper, chili powder and cumin.<br/>Cook stirring to brown all sides, over medium high until the pork is cooked through, about 7 minutes. Note: the Adobo is very salty. Do not add salt until you taste!<br/>Mince shallot. Add when the pork looks done, and cook stirring frequently until the shallot is softened.<br/>Add Salsa and water. Scrape the bottom of pan if it is not non-stick, to capture any fond. Turn off heat under skillet.<br/>Mix corn bread following package directions. <br/>Carefully taste the liquid in the skillet. Now is your chance to add seasoning if needed. The liquid should be below or at the top of the meat. Add more water if needed. (If you are using the casserole, spray it with non-stick pan spray and transfer the filling from the skillet.)<br/>Sprinkle the shredded cheese over the pan, in an even layer.<br/>Using a large spoon or a scoop, spot the batter over the filling. Use a spatula to spread it into an even layer. <br/>Bake at 400 for 35 - 40 minutes, rotating the pan after 20 minutes. The pie is done when golden and a toothpick comes out of the corn bread clean. Do not go too deep only test the bread. <br/><br/>Remove from oven, let stand at least 5 minutes. Be careful the skillet will be HOT! Serve with a green salad, or for more "taco" effect, shredded lettuce, and guacamole. </div> Jimnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3795176.post-31816874169705604392014-10-16T11:26:00.002-05:002014-10-16T11:28:19.900-05:001945? Really?<div style="background-color: #f6cef5; border: 10px 0px 10px 0px; font-size: 140%; line-height: 145%; padding: 5px 0px 5px 0px;"><br />I was born in 1946. Like most living Americans, I have never seen the Cubs in a World Series. I doubt there are any living Americans born before 1909. The last time the Cubs won was the 1908 series. <br /><br/>Yesterday, Kansas City's Royals won the American League title and a spot in the World Series. Comments by various fans and journalists noted that this is the first time they have done this since 1985. OK, Cubs, want to explain why it has been 69 years since you got to the series? <br /><br/>OK, I admit it - I am a White Sox fan. Our team does get to the series from time to time. Chicago was over-joyed last time we made it. Even Cubs fans were excited. I think it about time Cubs management wasted less energy on the ballpark, and put more into, you know(?) winning? </div>Jimnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3795176.post-39512578113488171352014-10-14T15:27:00.001-05:002014-10-14T22:35:34.674-05:00"Prophecy" <div style="background-color: #f6cef5; border: 10px 0px 10px 0px; font-size: 140%; line-height: 145%; padding: 5px 0px 5px 0px;"><br />There are several ways to look at Scripture. If we are honest with ourselves, we acknowledge the fact that our views, our modes of thinking, and yes our cultures, secular and (perhaps) religious, influence how we understand what we read. Perhaps, indeed, I should say, "the way<i>s</i>" we choose. <br /><br />His Grace Archbishop Temple, a brilliant thinker on things Biblical is reputed to have observed that the great American heresy was treating the Hebrew Scriptures as a book of laws. Equally, some read the text seeking proof of God's forgiving mercy. Sometimes that works, sometimes it fails, and sometimes it takes chapter after chapter to catch even a glimpse. Others read it as history, or poetry, or in the case of skeptics, ancient magic thinking. <br /><br />Problems with these approaches abound. Consider two. One, any approach that tries to assign one singular meaning to the entire Bible, is wrong. The text is not conformed to one theme or viewpoint. Two, if we approach with a presupposed over-arching theme, we are engaged in&nbsp;eisegesis -&nbsp;attempting to bring a story line into the text makes us read our thoughts, not God's, or even the author's. <br /><br />Recently, my son Stephan and I have noticed a disturbing trend. Writers from both liberal sources (cf. Huffington Post) and very conservative (Jewish and evangelical "Christian" commentators) have sought to tie ISL, Hamas, and in some cases Palestinians generally to the ancient Amalekites. In one sense, this is predictable. The low quality of scholarship that infests those who seek to use God as a political tool is overwhelmingly evident on the American right wing. Given the incredible stupidity that the likes of Phyllis Schlafly, Rafael Cruz, and Mike Huckabee engage in, nothing should shock us. <br /><br />None-the-less, when columnists, bloggers, and commentators start reaching for the same relatively obscure references in Judges, 1 Samuel, and 1 Chronicles, I am moved to ask why? No, I am not about to indulge in some fanciful conspiracy theory. For one thing, unlike Mrs. Schafly, I do not have the Obamas to use as demonic figures. Why, unlike her, I accept the clear reality that Mrs. Obama is a girl! And yet something it appears, is happening. <br /><br />If you were fortunate to miss or forget the Sunday School lessons on any of the, few, very ancient references to king Amalek, or his people; here is a brief refresher or introduction. As the Hebrews were sojourning through the deserts South and East of Canna, they encountered indigenous people. Exodus 17 recounts their clash with the Amalekites who, unlike other kingdoms, did not respond well to Moses's asking for permission to march peaceably through their territory. So, reluctantly of course, the Hebrews fought. The Hebrews won. The story of the aftermath of the battle is in these verses. <br /><blockquote>14 Then the Lord said to Moses, ‘Write this as a reminder in a book and recite it in the hearing of Joshua: I will utterly blot out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven.’ 15 And Moses built an altar and called it, The Lord is my banner. 16 He said, ‘A hand upon the banner of the Lord![a] The Lord will have war with Amalek from generation to generation.’<cite>Exodus 17,14-16, New Revised Standard Version</cite></blockquote><br />Considering how obscure the story on this battle had become, we might argue that this had been done. No one, except a very few scholars, has been thinking about Amelek or his people for a long, long time. <br /><br />So again, why the sudden references? Why conflate these ancient people&nbsp;with modern Arabs, Syrians, and Muslims in general? We need to look deeper. <br /><br />And there it is!<br /><blockquote>One day Samuel said to Saul, “It was the Lord who told me to anoint you as king of his people, Israel. Now listen to this message from the Lord! 2 This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies has declared: I have decided to settle accounts with the nation of Amalek for opposing Israel when they came from Egypt. 3 Now go and completely destroy[a] the entire Amalekite nation—men, women, children, babies, cattle, sheep, goats, camels, and donkeys.”<cite>1 Samuel 15: 1-3 New Revised Standard &nbsp;Version</cite></blockquote><br /><br />I began by saying that there are lots of ways to read Scripture. The worst, the most despicable, is to seek an excuse for evil. And here we are! Suddenly it is clear that what is going on is precisely that use. If we are seeking to eliminate the bad taste in the mouths of the West after the horror modern Israel visited on Gaza, well that is what God says should happen to the Amalekites! If Israel, Turkey, or USA contemplate scorched earth warfare against either the Syrian government, such as it is and what there is of it, or ISL, well, they are Amalekites.<br /><br />And that, I fear this explains why suddenly we are being reminded of Amalek, Agog, and Saul. You see, Samuel renounces the kingship of Saul. Saul's failure is he does not kill all of Amalek's tribe and spares his descendant, King Agog, who incidentally was his cousin. And, if we follow the intellectually bankrupt argument to its logical conclusion, why we in the West can kill Amalekites too. After all, Samuel told us God expects us to wipe them out. <br /><br />At the end of the day, I do find not a conspiracy. Rather a whole group of people trying for ,their own disparate reasons to justify unrestricted warfare, and killing. We might prefer the conspiracy!</div><br /><br />Jimnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3795176.post-27790285175908835622014-10-13T16:47:00.000-05:002014-10-14T13:47:00.080-05:00Open Letter to Stephanie Miller<div style="background-color: #f6cef5; border: 10px 0px 10px 0px; font-size: 140%; line-height: 145%; padding: 5px 0px 5px 0px;"><br />I listened to your and Stephanie's reactions to a call today with some sadness. You took a call from, "Stephan" regarding marriage. He said that he thinks that the next barrier to fall should be those polygamous&nbsp;marriages&nbsp;that involve immigrants arriving, from Islamic or other countries that recognize such marriages. He suggested that the refusal of such recognition is an effective bar to immigration as second or other wives do not share legal status with the first wife. He would have noted that "bigamy" laws are also a disincentive. <br/><br />Unfortunately, you chose to assume, incorrectly, that he is a rightwing troll seeking to tarnish the newly legal LGBT marriage rights. Neither you nor Stephanie gave him a chance to explain. <br/><br />Stephan is my son. He is no rightwinger and raised in a family that has supported LGBT rights for decades, he is not opposed to marriage equality. He works for Muslims and actually knows that one argument against immigration can be the legal status of&nbsp;"second wives. <br /><br/>I can think of a dozen problems with polygamy, and probably miss a few. But in the case of previously married candidates for immigration, the objections fall. Our Anglican church has dealt with the problem for years in Africa, where converts come to us with multi-wife issues. We have learned that saying, "ok, but no more!" is the compassionate choice. Anything else places women at extreme disadvantage. <br/><br />Which is where Stephan hoped the conversation would go. And frankly it should have gone. <br /><br/>Respectfully, you blew it. <br/></div>Jimnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3795176.post-20302414368069998342014-10-09T10:35:00.001-05:002014-10-09T10:35:53.325-05:00Is there something, anything, Republicans won't say?<div style="background-color: #f6cef5; border: 10px 0px 10px 0px; font-size: 140%; line-height: 145%; padding: 5px 0px 5px 0px;"><br />One of the dolts given us by the Tea Party is busily lying about ISL. He has fabricated 10 jihadists whom, according to his fantasy, the Border Patrol stopped as they attempted to infiltrate Texas. His, "message?" Re-elect him so that he and his fellow paranoiacs can create a fortress America. A nation that will exclude Muslims, and Ebola carriers, which Mr. Obama because of his ties to West Africa (do not mention he is Black) won't do. <br /><br />You have to hand it to him: finding another group even if it is imaginary, to exclude is in line with the ideology! <br /><br />There must be some excuse for voting for these Tea Party mopes. I simply cannot think of what it is. Oh wait! Thanks to Laura Ingram, I think I found it. Mr.Obama is (a) a Democrat, and (b) Black. Sometimes writing a short post is a great way to work out the details. </div>Jimnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3795176.post-32209707208348176872014-10-06T10:06:00.001-05:002014-10-07T10:42:20.156-05:00Islamaphobia<div style="background-color: #f6cef5; border: 6px 6px 6px 6px; font-size: 130%; line-height: 150%; padding: 10px 10px 10px 10px;"><br /><br />In general, I am inclined to think little of celebrities who step into public debate. Displaying competence as an actor, or football player does not automatically demonstrate competence in public policy. ::sigh:: I hope I am not stepping into an agreement trap here - paying attention simply because I agree. None-the-less, I think Ben Affleck is spot on when he calls out Islamophobia. <br /><br />Worldwide condemnation of ISL by leaders of Sunni, Shia, Moabite, Wahabi, and Sufi Islam does not seem to silence those who are practicing this particularly ugly form of racism and religious bigotry. Yes, there is an ugly strain of Islam, which alas arises most frequently from Wahabi. It is outright evil, has been condemned by Islamic leaders for years, and it is the false Islam of al&nbsp;quida and ISL. But we Christians cannot really criticize this, one need only look at the Inquisition, the drownings of Jean Claude Calvin, and the fate of the Huguenots to see our own dirty hands. <br /><br />My family is very proud of my niece, a Muslim, Air Force Academy grad, and pilot who is as loyal to this country as anyone could ask. We Christians, here in my parish pray for her safety every mass. <br /><br />That my gentle readers is American, Christian, and yes, Islamic. Religious bigotry, Islamophobia, which is by the way racist, most Muslims are either immigrants of the children of recent immigrants. The ugly nativism that infected the Klan is on display in this virulent, unamerican (yes that is their word but it fits them better) prejudice. <br /><br />Incidentally, I named 4 different types of Islam of the top of my head. There are others. In Iran, there are several different kinds of Shia! Kurdish Sunni is not Indonesian, although the differences are subtle and can mystify Westerners. Islam, like Buddhism, and yes Christianity, is a mosaic. Blanket statements about it are almost always bigoted and wrong. </div>Jimnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3795176.post-56148538453574027382014-10-02T16:17:00.000-05:002014-10-06T10:07:16.732-05:00GTS Seminary Strife<div style="background-color: #f6cef5; border: 6px 6px 6px 6px; font-size: 130%; line-height: 150%; padding: 10px 10px 10px 10px;">As far as I know, I have never met most of the people in the current fight / controversy at General Theological Seminary in New York. I think I once shook the hand of one of the professors involved, but I am not sure, and I am certain he would not recall. Based on what I am reading, this qualifies me as an expert. I spent a good bit of my career such as it was and what there was of it, in academic settings. I think I understand something of that culture. And yes, it is a distinct and different culture when experienced in the teaching and administration roles. <br/><br/> I suspect the sides both need to sit back, think and consider some mediation. Certainly that is what the church needs of them. I hope that is what happens. But one thing I am sure of, is no one is helped by the conflict being editorialized. So, I won't. </div>Jimnoreply@blogger.com2